Read Online Courting Holly by Lynn A. Coleman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynn A. Coleman
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letting John Graham raise you. I saw no good coming out of confusing a young child who had such a rough time growing up without a father for so many years.
My heart aches leaving you behind but I know I’m doing right by you. You are a precious gift from God, one of which I was unworthy. I have a confession. I sent your mother and you back to her parents because I had gotten myself into some trouble at the beginning of the war. I chose to fight for the North, even though all my neighbors chose to fight for the South. Your mother was unaware of my decision, and perhaps that is why news came back to her that I had died in battle, when in fact, I had not.
I was a bit wild in my youth. War changed me. Seeing your mother in love with another man, anguished all over again over the loss of her first love, also had a profound effect. I have rededicated my life to God and will be doing my best to live a life more worthy of Him.
I did not share all of this with your mother because her decision was already difficult. By law, your mother was still married to me. However, in her heart she was more in love with John Graham. She had loved me, but had mourned my death and buried that love years hence.
As for you, your mother said you had a difficult time accepting John as your father. They had been married six months before you called him “Daddy.” Two months later, I returned. But I couldn’t bear to hurt you. So I returned to my home, the home your mother and I worked hard to build, and even harder to keep in my family. The original homestead belonged to my grandfather. He’d given it to me for our wedding present. I was a teacher then, and the small community needed a teacher. But teachers aren’t paid much so your mother and I worked hard to have the homestead become self-sufficient. Then news hit about the war.
I saw the house before traveling here. It suffered a lot of damage during the war. But the bones are strong and I can rebuild. Someday I hope you will want to come and see the place of your birth. I would love to show it to you.
For now, know that I love you. I will always love you. And I told your mother if she ever needed my help I would come.
Forgive me for releasing you into the care of your mother and John Graham, but my home is not a place for a young child at this time.
All my love,
Daddy
* * *
Bryce watched Holly as he approached the carriage. He loaded the small bundle behind the seat and climbed up inside the buggy. Fresh tears streamed down her face as she looked up from the paper in front of her.
“Which letter?”
“The first. The one he left with my mother.” She sniffed.
He handed her a clean handkerchief. Perhaps he should have brought more than three. “How do you feel?”
“I can tell that he loved me. And he’s confessing to me things he never confessed to Momma, which is rather strange.”
“What kinds of things?”
“Apparently he fought for the North.”
“Oh. And he is from Tennessee?”
She nodded. “And if I remember my history on the War Between the States, Tennessee was the location for a lot of the battles.”
“Yes, it was.”
Bryce grabbed the reins and led the buggy into the wide Savannah streets. “What else did he say?”
“That he had gotten himself into some trouble before the war. Perhaps it had a bit to do with his politics at the time.”
“Yeah, it would not have been a safe place to live if he sided with the North.”
“He and Mother would have had some interesting discussions regarding the war, if they had stayed together. Grandpa had his share of slaves.”
“As did mine. I see both sides, but I agree no man should own another.” He worked his way south toward his house. “My house is only a few blocks from Forsythe Park.”
Holly slipped the letter back into the envelope. “I never saw your father as overbearing. I am having trouble trying to understand why you would keep the purchase of your home from him.”
“He is not
My heart aches leaving you behind but I know I’m doing right by you. You are a precious gift from God, one of which I was unworthy. I have a confession. I sent your mother and you back to her parents because I had gotten myself into some trouble at the beginning of the war. I chose to fight for the North, even though all my neighbors chose to fight for the South. Your mother was unaware of my decision, and perhaps that is why news came back to her that I had died in battle, when in fact, I had not.
I was a bit wild in my youth. War changed me. Seeing your mother in love with another man, anguished all over again over the loss of her first love, also had a profound effect. I have rededicated my life to God and will be doing my best to live a life more worthy of Him.
I did not share all of this with your mother because her decision was already difficult. By law, your mother was still married to me. However, in her heart she was more in love with John Graham. She had loved me, but had mourned my death and buried that love years hence.
As for you, your mother said you had a difficult time accepting John as your father. They had been married six months before you called him “Daddy.” Two months later, I returned. But I couldn’t bear to hurt you. So I returned to my home, the home your mother and I worked hard to build, and even harder to keep in my family. The original homestead belonged to my grandfather. He’d given it to me for our wedding present. I was a teacher then, and the small community needed a teacher. But teachers aren’t paid much so your mother and I worked hard to have the homestead become self-sufficient. Then news hit about the war.
I saw the house before traveling here. It suffered a lot of damage during the war. But the bones are strong and I can rebuild. Someday I hope you will want to come and see the place of your birth. I would love to show it to you.
For now, know that I love you. I will always love you. And I told your mother if she ever needed my help I would come.
Forgive me for releasing you into the care of your mother and John Graham, but my home is not a place for a young child at this time.
All my love,
Daddy
* * *
Bryce watched Holly as he approached the carriage. He loaded the small bundle behind the seat and climbed up inside the buggy. Fresh tears streamed down her face as she looked up from the paper in front of her.
“Which letter?”
“The first. The one he left with my mother.” She sniffed.
He handed her a clean handkerchief. Perhaps he should have brought more than three. “How do you feel?”
“I can tell that he loved me. And he’s confessing to me things he never confessed to Momma, which is rather strange.”
“What kinds of things?”
“Apparently he fought for the North.”
“Oh. And he is from Tennessee?”
She nodded. “And if I remember my history on the War Between the States, Tennessee was the location for a lot of the battles.”
“Yes, it was.”
Bryce grabbed the reins and led the buggy into the wide Savannah streets. “What else did he say?”
“That he had gotten himself into some trouble before the war. Perhaps it had a bit to do with his politics at the time.”
“Yeah, it would not have been a safe place to live if he sided with the North.”
“He and Mother would have had some interesting discussions regarding the war, if they had stayed together. Grandpa had his share of slaves.”
“As did mine. I see both sides, but I agree no man should own another.” He worked his way south toward his house. “My house is only a few blocks from Forsythe Park.”
Holly slipped the letter back into the envelope. “I never saw your father as overbearing. I am having trouble trying to understand why you would keep the purchase of your home from him.”
“He is not
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